Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Toyota Sienna owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Multiple problems with my 2000 Toyota Sienna xle, first the car had problems with battery drain and not starting, they replaced the radio amplifier twice before fixing it, the power window on the driver side broke at 35,000 miles. The back hatch sheetmetal is all dented just from closing it and pushing on the handle. The worst one is that the van has been blowing a lot of blue smoke and burning oil, 4 quarts in the last 750 miles. So far no help from the dealer.
On my way to work when a deer ran out in front of me. I hit the deer on the front passenger side causing me to lose control. Ran off into ditch flipped over and was trapped. The airbag did not deploy even when the fire dept cut me out. They had to cut the steering wheel off my legs. No airbag deployed on either side.
2000 Toyota Sienna -- passenger side automatic sliding door failed. The problem was intermittent when the car was new and the door finally stopped working completely 5 years ago. The vehicle now has approx. 60,000 miles. The dealer thinks that all components (motor, controller, etc) need to be replaced and would cost over $2,200. After reading online forums and other people having the sliding door problems and the fact that it was still not working after spending thousands of dollars, I decided against spending the money. I believe this sliding door problem has always been a defect with this model. At first door would automatically open as one was driving, a dangerous situation. My wife disabled the door from the console switch. Online forums have lot of people complaining of the same problem. I have at least two other friends. …
Within a two minute period, both sliding doors that were previously functioning, suddenly failed in a closed position. They could not be opened manually using the door handles from both inside and outside the vehicle, or by attempting to actuate the right side power door. The power door locks had no effect. There was no damage to the vehicle that could have caused mechanical door failure, or otherwise. Non functioning or jammed doors should constitute a safety issue and should be recalled. If the vehicles front doors were compromised in a collision, passengers should be able to exit through the rear doors, but would not be able to with this mechanical defect. The fact that the doors cannot also be opened using exterior handles increases the risk of entrapping passengers. …
VIN [redacted]. Electrically operated sliding door opens and cannot be closed. Dealer and importer do not think they are responsible for this safety defect (out of warranty). My daughter's Sienna, VIN [redacted], which is a year younger has the identical problem, so does one of her friend's Sienna. I don't have that vehicle's VIN but I could get it. Toyota claims : no safety issue, defects are coincidental. Right!!! Their investigators should take probability 101 at their local community college. To top it all, the repair costs $750. What an insult! Before I forget; my Sienna had two wheel mounting studs shear off. I torque the nuts myself with a torque wrench set at 85 lb/ft. I suppose this is not a safety defect either since there are five studs holding the wheel. Since the importer is not concerned, perhaps they will be when you add this information to your database.
Gave a vehicle a boost one day previous. Closed hood on 2000 Sienna, but apparently not completely. I believe only safety latch securing hood rather than full hood latch. Driving on busy freeway to work fine but returning home on freeway, the safety latch on hood failed causing the hood to flip up and smash into windshield, denting hood and roof of van also. Pulled over to side of freeway safely. Called tow truck to haul car home. Safety latch and full hood latch now seem fine, but will be replacing shortly. Currently only replaced windshield and secured hood as good as possible. Getting quotes from bodyshops for repairs and have contacted Toyota as I feel this is a safety issue. After 6 days, yet to have Toyota call me back. This could have been a catastrophic crash, but thankfully wasn't.
Sliding door will not open electrically and/or manually. Clicks when activated but doesn't open either way. Disconnected battery as suggested by dealer, to reset the mechanism, but to no avail; still doesn't work and is a large pain to deal with! It forces entry on the drivers side only and that is not safe when there is speeding by only a few feet away with traffic! There are thousands of complaints in all the Toyota forums on the net. I think it is past time for a factory recall on these automatic sliding doors!!!!
Fluid leak around the transmission pan gasket. Repaired 3 times by 2 different Toyota dealers. Easy job but maybe it is a deeper problem? Transmission did not shift when cold for about 2 miles after the first and second time it was "fixed." after the third time trying to stop the oil leak, they adjusted the throttle cable and now it seems to shift more normally in cold mornings. Since new, the left sliding manual door was hard to open from the inside. After 2 trips for "adjustments" the door is opening correctly.
Without warning, plastic door handles break, rendering ability to open, close hatch or door impossible. Hatch door broke first approximately January 2013, then rear sliding door, and then today, passenger front door. Hatch has no inside door handle, so without warning door immediately inoperable. Rear drivers side sliding door broke on outside first, then inside within a day, so that emergency exit impossible. Today, front passenger door outside broke.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that the passenger's side door handle detached. The contact mentioned that the passenger's side door could not be opened or closed from the outside or inside of the vehicle. The vehicle was diagnosed and needed the plastic assembly door handle replaced with a metal insert. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 37,700.00.
Related recalls
Structure
Toyota is recalling certain model year 1998 through 2010 sienna passenger vehicles manufactured between August 7, 1997 and January 4, 2010, currently registered in or originally sold in connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, new hampshire, new jersey, new york,…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners with an interim letter initially instructing them to bring their vehicle to authorized dealers to inspect for corrosion. A second notice will be sent when the permanent remedy is available.
Body complaints in other Sienna years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2000 Toyota Sienna?
NHTSA has 52 complaints about the body & structure of the 2000 Toyota Sienna, 14% of the model year's 363 complaints. The component named most often is body › door (30 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Toyota Sienna body problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 10V-160 (structure, Apr 20, 2010). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Toyota Sienna body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 120,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.